Translation of Solicitation

I got an email today from someone outside the region asking hte contact of one of our customers.

In an ideal world, it is not ethical and even legal, to disclose anybody's contact details, let alone, a customer's.

So, i emailed him back asking him exactly what he is looking for. And he confirmed it. He wasn't the name/numbers of one of our customers so that he can offer his services to them.

His English wasn't that great. So i gave the guy the benefit of the doubt and thought it could be a another case of "lost in translation". So I called him.

After the hellos and introductions bla bla, we had the following conversation:

- So, sir. Just to get you right. Emailed me to provide you with the contacts of a company that is our customer. Is that accurate?
- Yes. We want to make business with them. Please send me name, email, telephone number.
- Ummm, Sir. That might be difficult to do. Because they are our customer, we have to protect their privacy. Have you tried contacting them directly?
- WHAT? This is Open market. I contact anyone I want. You say I am dishonest?
- huh?.. no.. I meant that if you go to their website, you can ..
- I will never ask anything from your combany. I will rebort to your hed offeese in amerika. *Click*

I have no clue why he flipped on me like that! Not only that, the muthafriggendouchbag hung up in my face. It wasn’t enough for him to be a total idiot for even making such an obscene request, the moron actually asked it in writing on email - that he wants to solicit our customer information for his business use.

Anyhow, I called our legal guys (who are the coolest people in our company btw), they told me: If he calls you again, tell him to kiss your @$$ :)

Cross Communications

I was dealing remotely with a colleague in another office outside the UAE. Other colleagues warned me that people from that particular branch office are very full of themselves. And she was no exception.

I never met the lady in person. Only on email and conference calls. She was very opinionated and always wanted to have the final word on every step of the project. She would send long flaming mails, bossing everyone around and always tried to undermine everyone, especially yours truly.

But her attempts kept getting blocked because I kinda outranked her. But she never gave up, even when met in person for the first time:

Me (with a genuine smile): Hello, its Mory from the Dubai office. We finally meet in person
Her (with a demeaning look): Hi. I didn't think you are THAT young...
Me: Oh... and I didn't think you were THAT old.

Mr. Big Shot

Location: Mall of the Emirates
Time: Last night

Me: Hey man, long time no see .. five years or so. How are you?
Him (puffing Cuban cigar smoke in air): I am good.
Me: What are you doing now? Hope all is well.

(he pulled out a business card from a polished metal case and gives it to me)

Me: Wow, CEO.. congratulations. Since when?
Him: A while back. I own the company.
Me: I am impressed! So, how many employees do you have?
Him: three

More updates

Hi ..

How you doin?

Long time no see.

I know .. sorry about that..


Things have been a bit crazy lately. I've been travelling a lot. I am in Doha at the moment, waiting for my EK back to Dubai.

Have lots of stories to tell. I still have one more week of work-related wackiness to go; so by mid March, I should be able to pick up whats left of my sanity.

So, whats going on?

At home, we are still without AC. The project engineer actually explained why is it we can't have DEWA hocked up till now. It turned out that it was all because of a "situation" DEWA people faced while trying to lay down the Main Power cable all the way from the main Generator to our building. While workers were digging away, they came across a construction site of which the contractor was being a major ASS about removing his junk to clear out the way for the DEWA guys to stretch the cable. He was being such a mutha about it to the point our building contractor called the cops. Anyhow, after several visits by DEWA people, police and a couple of warning letters, it was all cleared and we should, according to the project manager, be able to get DEWA, Etisalat and all that good stuff sometime toward the end of this week..... Lets see.

Lulu is officially walking. I can't describe to you the feeling just to see her wiggle her cute tush and her arms flying around everywhere. I miss her soo much.

As I said earlier, work has been really crazy. Everybody who is somebody in the company decided to drop in Dubai this week. And Yours Truly was assigned to look after their agendas, needs and egos. Not only that, they are moving around all over the place and I have to tag along. Bottom line; I ended up visiting 3 different countries 5 times over a period of 10 days. I still have a couple of more cities to cover. It should be over soon.

Also, there has been some internal movements at work as well. Its seems that some big Kahuna in Corp noticed that Yours Truly gotz some skillz, so he wants me to have a bigger role, wider goe-coverage responsibility and - dig this- wants Yours Truly to report directly to him.

Now, here is where it gets a bit tricky. It is the same Kahuna who my direct manager reports to. I don't know how that will make him feel, but I can feel that the love is NOT in the air.

Remember "C"? Well, she actually resigned and is on her way to a more "recognising" job. So, my boss already lost one good member of his team and another one is being snatched away.

I don't know. Lets hope i don't get caught in the middle of inter-office politics mambo jumbo.

I've been to Jordan last week. Spent a few days there. Though I really wanted to, but I couldn't go to Amman. I really wanted to meet up with some friends there. I feel bad. I hope I can make it up on my next trip. Anyhow, more photos/posts will be dedicated to Jordan.

Doha is an interesting place. I have mixed feelings about this place. I will try to be as objective as I can be. Again, more dedicated Qatar-posts should be coming your way.

I hope I can get Internet at home soon, so that i can resume normal blogging.

Miss you all ..